Friday, 3 August 2012

  By Wanderi wa Kamau

FALLACIOUS ATTACKS TO MIGUNA BOOK AN INDICATION OF ITS IMPACT TO KENYA'S
POLITICAL SCENARIO

Reading Miguna Miguna's reply to what he calls 'Raila's groupies and KANU orphans'(The Star 31st July),I was left with a lot of questions as well as innumerable makings of this man.Firstly,Miguna is a jurisprudence pundit who argues factually.His arguments revolves around sound ,concrete and substantiated evidences;not fallacious theories,as his critics would like us to believe.

Ngunjiri Wambugu was the first one to hurl a salvo at demonizing Miguna's personality,terming him as 'narcisstic'.In almost his entire colunm,Wambugu tried to present validities that would have driven us to believe that Miguna is indeed a man who suffers from a psychological incapacitation.To Wambugu and his ilk I present this question:If Miguna was then psychotic,as he proposed,would his intelligently written book be a subject of national discussion?Would he be a responsible man,handling a family as a father?Many other questions and doubts would follow,but real opinion writing calls for rhetorical modicum as well as sense of decorum.

Miguna's seething fury is primarily driven by what he found at the OPM.He has constantly emphasized that he never thought a man he thought one of Kenya's best sons and political heroes was sorrounded by masters and kingpins of corrupt deals,scandals and mega-scandals.True to his argument,isn't is true that the PM was reluctant to sack Water and Irrigation Minioster Charity Ngilu and recently Medical Services minister Anyang' Nyong'o over the NHIF scam?Why did the premier hury to demote and eventually sack Eldoret North MP William Ruto from his Agriculture Ministry docket?Isn't this a clear sdemonstration of double standards? Does posing such a question qualify one as a mental attendee?

On the other hand,Prof Makau Mutua termed Miguna's book as a 'cheap piece' which scores a mere 'D' to the reader(Sunday Nation,29th July).Mutua went on to state that 'people should not write cheap books' to settle their scores.Miguna responded by correcting Mutua that his was not an 'academic' book but mere political memoirs.Its true that any type of memoirs do not have any academic referencing.As a person who found his way to the corridors of Kenya's mainstream politics,Miguna incorporated his observations in his stint as the PM's seniormost political advisor,and a member of his political think tank(s).A participation of such critical strategies involves reliance on other strategies that were used elsewhere in various political systems in the world.This calls for the adoption of use of detailed political ideologies and applying them in the Kenyan context.

Having an interaction of such knowledge,Miguna developed his principles, which he believed would best suit the cleansing of our polar and volatile political system.At our disposal,we have some renown works that suit Miguna's Peeling Back The Mask such as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's Not Yet Uhuru,JM Kariuki's A Mau Mau Detainee,Wanyiri Kihoro's Never Say Die:The Chronicles of A Political Prisoner  among others.These works recapture the respective author's presonal life and struggles as well as highlighting their believes in ideologies which they thought that were best suited to redeem our country from the manacles of one-party rule totalitariasnism as well as perpetual economic stagnation,as highlighted in Oginga's Not Yet Uhuru,who championed for the adoption of communism,as Julius Nyerere had done in Tanzania.Kariuki's work demonstrates the suffreings of Mau Mau freedom fighters in colonial camps and their eventual betrayal by the Kenyatta regime,as powerful political figureheads ganged up to grab large tracts of land meant for these poor freedom fighters.Up to now,they are still fighting for their rights,courtesy of the ongoing case at London.Thousands of others are squattres in various parts of the country.

Other frivolous and half-baked attack says that Miguna wrote the book in a hurry.I wish to state that not only did he delay the production of the book,but also could have added more contents.During its launch,Miguna non-hesitantly asserted that he could be writting two more books.Having the facts at his disposal,did he have to consult other publications to authenticate his message which he already had?The publishing of the book was timely,in ordrer to put to weigh,the effectiveness of our predidential aspirants.Peeling Back the Mask gives an untold accuracy of exact dates,days and the time that events happened.What else could have been 'researched' as the critics poses?

Summarily,I do not wish to underscore the popularity of Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a doyen of Kenya's multiparty politics.Budalangi legislator,Ababu Namwamba,once wrote that Kenya's politics are driven by two waves:Railamania and Railaphobia.This is very true,for a critical observer.For instance,in 2002 the PM's slogan of Kibaki Tosha is the one that changed the whole course of the presidential polls.In 2005's referundum,the PM was the central figure in determining the vote outcome-his NO side won by a landslide.In 2007's poll,Railamania was one of the two competing factions.And now,its all about the two manias.The PM  will remain a legend of Kenyan politics,just as his late father.

Conclusively,lets uphold sobriety when debating national issues.

Monday, 16 July 2012

 By Wanderi wa Kamau

PEELING BACK THE MASK:WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR RAILA?

The much anticipated book,Peeling Back the Mask,by former premier's advisor,MIguna Miguna may have serious political implications on the PM ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections.

In the initial stage of public revelation of the book,it was said to be in the hands of renown American conspiracy theorist,Dr,Jerome Corsi.Going by the publications of the leftist author,his works on various political figures in the United States politics have had significant repercussions upon their political careers.The most renown one is Unfit for Command:Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Aganist John Kerry,whose sole aim was to negate the presidential bid of John Kerry,who sought to oust incumbent President George Bush in the 2004 presidential elections.It worked out,as the book became a bestseller and managed to change some diehard Democrat supporters following fallacious theories it had advanced aganist Kerry.

This leftism stance is what Miguna Miguna seemed to have taken.I wish to contradict with those already convinced that these explosive memoirs may not manage to taint Raila's political legacy.Currently,the PM is campaigning on a what ha calls a 'reformists' versus 'non-reformists' platform.

Going by the serialisation as well as the initial reviews of the book,one of its aims is 'to question the reformist credentials' of the PM.Miguna was the PM advisor on coalition government matters for close to three years,and he knows the inside account on what transpired in the PM's ofice during his tenure.I can bet that Miguna can not cook up his own theories,but he is trying to give the real picture of what characterises our political offices.

The anticipation of the book has elicited shockwaves,even to the ordinary voters,who also have great anxiety to know the contents of the book.Some FM radio stations,through their shows have gone to the extent of pinpointing to their audiences of Miguna's book contents.Some of these stations command great geo-political influence in their respective areas.

The timing of the launching of the book is also another important consideration.It is at the height of the electioneering campaigns and it may be used by anti-Raila crusaders to perpetuate negative propaganda about him.Therefore,the impacts of the book should not be overlooked.

However,Miguna's portrayal of great negativism aganist the PM in this book may work as an impediment to its credibility.The book is replete with portraying the murky side of his former boss,weakening it as a demonstration of emotional revenge,qualifying it as subjective.







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 JOEL GITIMU:WASIFU WA DIWANI MSHAIRI
 
Amewahi kuangaziwa na Taifa Leo mara mbili kama mmoja wa viongozi wachanga zaidi nchini Kenya.Ni kiongozi mshairi,mchanga na mwenye mwonolimwengu mpana.Anaelewa changamoto ambazo wananchi hupitia maanake amedhihirisha wazi kwamba vijana wana uwezo wa kuongoza pasi dhana ambazo huwa na jamii kwamba wao hawafai kutwikwa nyadhifa na wajibu wa uongozi.

Lakini Joel Gitimu,diwani wa wadi ya Lenginet,Nakuru, amedhihirisha kwamba vijana wana uwezo wa kuongoza,na kufikia malengo makubwa ambayo jamii inaweza ikafaidika nao.Tangu aliposhinda uchaguzi mdogo katika wadi hii mnamo 2008,wengi walikuwa na tashwishi kwamba kijana kama huyu angeweza kuwajibikia majukumu sufufu ambayo yalimngojea kama kiongozi aliyetegemewa na jamii kama mfano wa kuigwa.

Nikiwa mkaazi wa wadi hii,ni dhahiri kwamba mengi yamebadilika tangu 2008.Kwanza,eneo hili lina wakaazi wa jamii mbalimbali.Gitimu,chini wa uongozi wake mwenye maono,ameweza kuwaunganisha wakaazi wa hapa pasi kujali jamii wanamotoka.Kupitia kwa ughani wake wa mashairi ambao amekuwa akiufanya katika mikutano ya hadhara,diwani huyu amekuwa katika mstari wa mbele kuupiga vita ukabila na kuwaonya wananchi kwamba ni kikwazo cha ustawi wa kimaendeleo.

Mengi ya mashairi yake huonyesha maudhui ya uzalendo.Aghalabu yeye huwa hatoi hotuba kama wanasiasa wale wengine.

Amekuwa mfano wa kuigwa na vijana,wazee na kila mmoja katika jamii.Chini ya uongozi wake,eneo hili limestawi kimiundo msingi ambayo ilikuwa imedorora hapo kabla.Wanagenzi wa shule za upili wamekuwa wakinufaika kwa fedha za basari ambazo huwasaidia sana wazazi wao katika ulipaji wa karo yao.Mfumo wa utoaji wa fedha hizi aidha umekuwa na uwazi mkubwa,tangu awe diwani.

Badala ya kuita na kuandaa mikutano ya kisiasa,mingi ya mikutano yake huwa ni kumbi za kutoa nasaha kwa wanafunzi hawa kupitia mashairi,hadithi na hotuba zilizojaa na kusheheni nukuu za wanafalsafa mashuhuri.Diwani huyu ni mwandishi mtajika kwani ameandika diwani kadhaa za mashairi,ikiwemo 'Ota na Uwe' iliyozinduliwa miaka miwili iliyopita.Diwani hii imewasaidia wengi katika kuwapa motisha maishani.


Ni dhahiri basi kupitia kwa mfano wa diwani Gitimu,vijana wanao uwezo mkubwa wa uongozi ikiwa wanaweza kupewa nafasi katika jamii kudhihirisha hayo.

Thursday, 14 July 2011

WHAT AWAITS AFRICA'S NEWEST NATION?
Free at last! After almost a two-decade civil war,a struggle for liberation and an agitation for self-rule, Southern Sudan is now a nation reborn.

But what awaits the newest  nation in the global map?Has it yet  liberated itself from the murkiness of its dark past?Will it live to its dreams?
These are some of the numerous questions on the monumental task ahead of post-conflict reconstruction that awaits the leadership that takes over.

After attaining their independence in early 1960s,most African freedom fighters in their newly independent countries were fully optimistic that after edging out their colonial masters,they would reap the benefits of their countries' resource endowments  as they had full confidence on the homegrown leadership  in their countries.

Many of these leaders,who themselves weer leading nationalists had the support of their citizens.The countries had tattered economies owing to the destruction that had been caused by the liberation struggle.But this joy and optimism was short-lived.

These post-independence leaders turned from democrats to tyrants,from selfless statesmen nad respected nationalists to gluttonous master minders  and plunderers of their countries' fragile economies.Some became even murderers as they often detained those who criticized their  authoritarian leaderships as well as ordering controversial assassinations of their critics.

Southern Sudan is no different. Entangled in the ongoing Abyei conflict,the rush of the world's leading superpowers(China and the US) to control the oil-rich Abyei region,strained diplomatic relations with Uganda and Northern Sudan,Erittea's inordinate act of supporting the rebels opposing the Southern Sudan government among other numerous challenges,a very principled leadership  with sound diplomatic,social,political and economic-oriented policies is needed.

The leadership that takes over is greatly tasked with leading an enormous task of post-conflict reconstruction in order to make the people's dreams alive for the newly born republic.The Salva Kiir's led leadership must endeavour to resist all pressures that may sink this new republic into yet another new abyss of divided neo-colonial inclinations.


It is such divided inclinations to certain world's powers within a third world country that mothers all her socio-political and economic woes.This as  clearly seen when newly independent African countries were either forced to adopt capitalistic or socialist ideologies.This led to the ever unending internal conflicts within them,most of which had ramifications which are rife even today.

The leadership must adopt and uphold the real principles of participatory democracy where all the conflicting communities must be constituted in the national government to avert the emergence of new internal rebellions.
The diplomatic relations within Northern Sudan,dominated by Arabs is a very critical issue   that is the key determinant of the South's stable political future.

A homegrown solution over the Abyei region is the best.Regional neighbours like Kenya and other IGAD-member countries must continue to act as a watchdog  as this newest nation matures to solve its own problems.The vision that the late Dr.John Garang had for his people should not  be lost lost indeed fulfilled.

Let the dingy past fade away and look to a fulfilling future.Let the once hotbed of civil unrest be an oasis of peace,prosperity and hope for its people.We wish you well,the new republic.May you live your dreams.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

Monday, 11 July 2011

OF GREEDY LEGISLATORS AND THEIR UNCERTAIN POLITICAL FUTURE
It is no wonder that over 60 percent of the sitting legislators would face the wrath of their electorates if an election was to be held.This is a timely research for Infotrak Kenya.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said that:"All great things are simple and many can be expressed in a simple word:freedom,justice,honour,
duty,mercy,hope."
Our legislators have completely failed this country,by just avoiding to do fulfil these simple obligations.No one can deny that.

When the coalition government was formed under the 2008's National Accord and Reconciliation Act,many were optimistic that even though Kenya had just come from the abyss of ethnic genocide,this would be a lesson to our new breed of leaders,most of whom are young learned elites.

But they had little to learn.Currently,the grand conflict is whether to pay taxes or not.Are our leaders neophytes to the provisions of the same law they endorsed?They seem not to be dawned by the realities of the stipulations of the new constitution.Payment of taxes is not excusable in any way.It is obligatory to any state officer.Article 210(3)(a) and (b) clearly states that no law may exclude or authorise the exclusion of a state officer from payment of taxes by the reason of office held by that state officer,or the nature of the work of the state officer.

While the other constitution put the institution of presidency above the law,the current constitution puts enough checks and balances to control the excesses of the executive.

Our legislature has demonstrated untold reluctance in the implementation process of the new law.While the transition period is almost over,the parliament has only managed to pass seven out 50 crucial bills for the full implementation of the new law.This puts to question the relevance of the recently concluded Conference on Constitutional Implementation.

According to CIC(Constitutional Implementation Commission) chairman,Simeon Nyachae,the outgoing Attorney General Amos Wako is deliberately delaying the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission bill.Under the Fifth Schedule in the constitution,this crucial commission is given a time-frame of one year for it to be in place.August is just weeks away and our legislators seem to be unmoved by this.Indeed,no elections can take place without this commission in place and this puts a lot of uncertainties on the political direction we are moving to.

Mismanagement of the CDF funds remains yet another hurdle and massive failure of the sitting MPs.Many of them have been accused of gross misappropriation of these funds to their own advantage and their cronies.For instance,how can a constituency misuse a whooping Sh.34.7 million meant for upholding the lives of the electorates at the grassroots?This is what the National Taxpayers' Association (NTA)recently revealed.

And the 'innocent' drug lords mystery.While a Kenyan-based investigation shows that MPs linked to drug-trafficking are 'innocent' and were 'maliciously implicated to indignation' by an ill-willed Michael Ranneberger,a high-profile United States intelligence has all the facts that lead to our 'innocent sons' guilt in drug trafficking.What a twist of events and an ironed scenario?

At the moment,Kilome MP, Harun Mwau is having a do-or-die battle with the mighty American superpower who brand him as who operate a 'grand drug network' in the East African region.If the whole twist of drugs saga comes out to be true,is this the picture our parliamentarians have portrayed of Kenya to the rest of the world for their inordinate avarice?

While the country is sailing through difficult economic times,with skyrocketing prices for basic commodities,inflation rate already hitting 14.5 percent,succession politics,land woes,blame-games  on constitutional implementation process...and an inconsiderate legislature,who would approve them?

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

TAIN POLITICAL FUTURE
 IS KIBAKI SYMPATHIZING WITH CORRUPTION LORDS?
When President Kibaki lifted up the document of the new constitution and waved it to Kenyans to see,it was a very symbolic gesture.
It was a gesture that heralded a new dawn.It was a farewell to a paternalistic authoritarianism,a monocephalous executive and an incompetent judiciary.It was a welcome of a people-driven governance system where transparency and accountability would reign.

But was this so?Never.These high anticipations have been hijacked by our leadership's reluctance to curb the corruption dragon.For a second time, Prof.Sam Ongeri,the education minister is in the spotlight again-the controversy surrounding the embezzlement of a whooping Sh.4.2 billion for the FPE  programme.This scam raises questions whether the President is committed to combating graft as he promised.Is he committed to adhering to the same law he held and renewed the hopes of a disillusioned populace?

The civil society actitivists have been camping at the minister's Jogoo House offices to pressurize for his resignation.So ignorant to these activists who represent the voices of millions of Kenyans,Prof.Ongeri was quick to dismiss these claims.He seem to be unaware of article 232 of the constitution on the values and principles of public office.Article 232(1)(a) states"the values and principles of public service include accountability for administrative acts"

He should resign, not on the basis of 'political responsibility' but for failed 'accountability for administrative acts' if we were to go by the stipulations of the new law.He should not use the excuse of 'political responsibility sanctify his misdeeds.

Last weekend Prof. Ongeri hosted President Kibaki in Gusii stadium and this sent mixed signals over the president's seriousness on the issue as well as his continued silence.
Firstly,this scam should not be viewed as a political contest between PNU and ODM.Innocent children are suffering because this noble idea has been abused by gluttonous officers.

If the minister is innocent,the best thing to do is to step aside and wait the findings of the  ongoing auditing process of the ministry's financial records in order to win  public confidence.

On the other hand,President Kibaki should break his long silence on the issue for the public to know exactly his stance on this scandal to correct the mixed public perceptions on the scam.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.